TV or no TV.... TB thinks TV.

In the past few weeks, we have been on the move! Yep... that's right... we moved, yet again! This time, it wasn't a drastic as the July 2008 post... it was actually just down the stairs. We moved from 8303 to 8101, and we love the new place! Our first night here was February 15, and I already have a green kitchen!

KC and I painted the first night we had the keys... it is nice to have color on the walls... the vanilla milkshake we were living in upstairs just wasn't cutting it anymore. This apartment is on the first floor and has a door that leads directly to grass... the pups couldn't be happier, and neither could their mom and dad. WE LOVE OUR NEW HOUSE!!

We got so tickled when the Verizon tech came out to install our cable. I didn't like him much from the start because he so kindly told my Max to "shut up, mutt" because he was a little yappy. So, from about 5 minutes after he arrived, I didn't participate in his mission. I left that up to Troy. About 3 hours into the endeavor, he needed to go to his truck for coax cable. He started patting his pockets for his keys and.... this is where it gets funny... he says, "I guess I left them in the truck. I've lost more trucks that way." I just looked at Troy... and when he walked out, I asked, "does he feel that vehicles are disposable? Does Verizon just turn their heads when a technician "looses" a truck because they left their keys in it? This should have been our first clue. This debacle continued for another 2.5 hours, and at the end, we still didn't have cable. Joe, as his name was, called at 8:30 PM that night to make sure we were satisfied with the outcome... oh, yes, Joe... yes. Completely satisfied. NOOOOOOO... what makes you think we are satisfied with you wasting 5 hours of our time, 3 hours of our cell phone minutes, and an outcome of no TV or Internet. Now, I didn't say that, but I did say, "no, Joe... we aren't satisfied. Troy made that perfectly clear when you left this afternoon, and that hasn't changed. Thanks for calling."

Yesterday, eight days later, yet another Verizon tech came out and did 3 hours worth of work, only to find out that it was nothing inside our apartment but a breaker in the telecomm room outside. AUGHHHHH... 8 days without a DVR or guide in the bedroom and no guide in the den for a breaker? Wouldn't you start with the easy stuff... cause let me tell you... the tech yesterday, replaced ALL the coax cables, the splitter, gave us a new router, ran tests on the coax, etc, etc, etc... and it was a breaker. In the end, we have all our options and Internet... 20 up and 5 down... oh, what a beauuuuuutiiiifulllll morning... oh, what a beauuuuuutiiiifulllll day... Internet and FiOS TV... everything's going our way!

Other than the FiOS TV and Internet tug of war, the new place is perfect. I don't mind living in an apartment anymore. It's been a challenge, but it's so much nicer. Our new address is 8101 Arment Drive, Glen Mills, PA 19342.

Don't forget to spring forward in 11 days! I can't wait for sunny afternoons... that means we can take the pups for walks! Yippee!!

Happy almost March!!

And... weeeee're back!!

Oh, my... what a new year!! I was so excited to start our full year in Philadelphia... mainly because January is the middle of winter, so spring can't be that far away!! But January did prove to be quite a good month. Of course, we celebrated Carlie and Shannon's birthdays (my sis and brother in law), and we went to several basketball games.

The other Blacks (Todd, Kelley, and the girls) gave Troy tickets to see Villanova play Louisville at the Wachovia Center on January 10. We had such a great time. I was a little under the weather, but it was so much fun to be back at a college game. It's been too long since we were in that atmosphere! I think that is the biggest part of college that I miss... cheap tickets, mediocre seats, but good games and good friends! There are pictures on the Picasa site at http://picasaweb.google.com/mandyeblack/VillanovaBballGame11008.

That day, we just made the rounds. That night, we had the Philadelphia Christmas party. It was downtown and was fun. Other than trying to walking on freezing rain and sleet in heels, it was a good time. We ate and mingled and laughed and watched other people dance! Troy and I don't' have much rhythm, so it's better if we are spectators when it comes to breaking it down on the dance floor! See pictures on the Picasa site... there aren't many, but a few!

Then, the next week, we went to see the Sixers take on the Spurs. I just LOVE Tony Parker... he's so hot! Haha!! It was a good game... granted we were among stars that night--World Series Champions, Jimmy Rollins and Jason Werth and actor Jamie Foxx was sitting court side. We had seats 7 rows from the Sixers bench, and the action was phenomenal!! It was a lot of fun... I've never been much of a pro basketball fan, but I'm kinda getting into it! Of course, there are pictures on the Picasa site.

The last fabulous event in January was my early birthday party!! We gathered our group of friends up here and had happy hour and a half and dinner at On the Border followed by a little bowling. It was so much fun. My friends, Laryssa and Melissa, from New York came down, and we all hit Philly in 20 degree weather to see the sites. Of course, we violated Rocky... you can't come to Philly and not take advantage of having your picture made with, by, on Rocky!! There are some fun pictures on the Picasa site. There are good pictures of the entire night. KC and I made the cake... it was the first fondant cake we've ever made, and it turned out terrific!! Of course, being the dorks that we are, the plate and forks matched the cake!!

My birthday was Sunday, February 8... I am now only 3 years from 30, and I think I'll go into mourning next year... Right now, I just want to enjoy the last years of youth before I really have to think about being an adult!! I had a good Sunday birthday... Troy and I relaxed and went out for lunch and then to a movie. Everyone called and sent their birthday wishes. I thank you and love you all!!

With a new age comes a new me! I decided on Monday of this week that I wanted to change my hair. I don't stop at a cut and a refreshing highlight... oh, no. I went all out and colored it dark red!! It is quite a change, but I really like it. Troy seems to like it, too... actually, I haven't had anyone tell me that it's not for me!! I've enjoyed the new, non-traditional color, and I hope you do, too.

I promise to do more when it comes to blogging from her on out. January was really busy, so I didn't have much free time with our outings and events, work, and then we both fought the cold disease that was going around. I'll end here for now... I think you've had quite enough! Later, gators!!!